Tag Archives: Monte Carlo

As the rich and famous shift to new playgrounds, Monaco kingpin Bernard Lambert is rebuilding the Monte Carlo story.

AH … Monaco: where royalty and tax exiles winter in luxury suites and multi-million dollar penthouses; where movie stars sip Cristal from Baccarat flutes on 300-foot yachts anchored in azure waters, baiting the paparazzi; where Prince Ranier once wooed Grace Kelly and fortunes were won and lost (mostly lost) at fabled roulette tables that have seen the likes of James Bond (in various iterations); where perfectly tanned beauties have been coming to play alongside legendary race car drivers out hunting for their next trophy…

Almost surreal, this picture of the glamourous and slightly decadent principality did certainly exist once. But the glamour appeared to be fading of late – tuxedos are not even de rigeur at the Casino de Monte Carlo any more.

Instead, the ultra-rich have been seeking out ever more exotic holiday destinations, hampered only by landing rights for their Gulfstream jets.

Enter Bernard Lambert, CEO of Monte Carlo SBM, the 146-year-old company that holds the monopoly to Monaco’s five casinos. It also owns four hotels there, the oldest of which, the Beach Hotel, has just undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishment with its Hotel de Paris and Hermitage being tweaked as well.

For many years before Mr Lambert joined in 2002, the company was quite happy with business as usual. Continue reading →